Cherry tree named Sweet Lorenz

ABSTRACT

PA2UNIBO ‘Sweet Lorenz’ is a novel cherry tree of the genus/species  Prunus avium  derived from a seedling of unknown cross which was planted at Vignola, Modena Province, Italy. It was initially propagated by grafting to root stocks of varying vigor and, after testing in districts and plantings of differing types, proved to have the qualities proper to a promising new cultivar for the market.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of pending EU Plant Patent for ‘SweetLorenz’, which was filed on 25 May 2012 as Application No. 2012/1158 inthe name of Applicant (holder) Alma Mater Studiorum—Università degliStudi di Bologna, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporatedherein by reference. EU Trademark for ‘Sweet Lorenz’ was released on 2Jan. 2013 as Registration No. 011043973 of Applicant (holder) Alma MaterStudiorum—Università degli Studi di Bologna.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS/SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED (CULTIVAR)

Prunus avium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

PA2UNIBO

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Prunus avium PA2UNIBO is derived from a seedling of unknown cross andoriginally called DCA BO A1C27. It was planted at Vignola, ModenaProvince, Italy, in February 2002 and first cropped in 2004. It wasinitially propagated by grafting to root stocks of varying vigor, testedin different growing districts and planting densities and proved to havethe properties proper to a promising new cultivar for the market. Itpicks about 10 after ‘Burlat’ (or about 8 days before ‘Bing’) at thesame date as Celeste® Sumpaca*.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The parentage of the variety is unknown. The name of a comparisonvariety is ‘Celeste’®Sumpaca*. Compared to ‘Celeste’® Sumpaca*, PA2UNIBOhas larger, firmer fruit of more uniform ripening and higher sugarcontent. PA2UNIBO was selected for its high qualities, including treegrowth and yield performance, and fruit appearance and excellenttaste-flavor properties. Its distinctive traits include early-mid seasonpicking, uniform maturing and large-sized fruit of firm flesh. Its othermost distinctive traits include mid-season, uniform ripening and large,firm-fleshed fruit. The date of discovery/cross was in the year 2000.The location of the discovery was Vignola, Modena Province, Italy. Thedate of the first asexual propagation was in 2008 in Vignola, ModenaProvince, Italy. PA2UNIBO was originally propagated on ‘Colt’ and‘Gisela 6’ root stocks of differing vigor in trial fields of BolognaUniversity to test growth and yield performance under different plantingsystems

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyas depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible in colorillustrations of this character.

FIG. 1 illustrates the detail of fully-open blossoms of PA2UNIBO.

FIG. 2 shows the flower, full front, in profile and with separatedpetals, of PA2UNIBO.

FIG. 3 3 shows the leaf profile of PA2UNIBO. Two leaves have beendetached and one has been placed upper leaf surface side down to showthe lower leaf surface details.

FIG. 4 shows details of fruit cropping of PA2UNIBO.

FIG. 5 shows the tree habit, with width-spread and height, of PA2UNIBO.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY General:

-   -   -   Age of described tree(s).—5 years, multi-leader spindle            training system.        -   Location of described trees(s).—Vignola, Modena Province,            Italy.        -   Name of color chart used.—Royal Horticultural Society Colour            Chart.        -   Name of root stock.—‘Colt’.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—High.        -   Height.—4-4.5 meters.        -   Spread.—3 meters.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-open.        -   Canopy density.—Medium.        -   Trunk diameter at specified height.—18-22 cm, as measured            about 5 cm above graft joint.        -   Trunk color.—Grayish (201A) with reddish nuances (183A).        -   Bark texture.—Of average roughness.        -   Tendency toward alternate bearing.—No.        -   Winter hardiness.—Unknown, no winter cold damage found in            this Po Valley district.        -   Chilling requirement.—Unknown.

-   Branch:    -   -   Length.—300-400 cm.        -   Diameter.—5-6 cm.        -   Crotch angle.—50°- 60° depending on training system.        -   Bark color.—Reddish-brown (200C) with widespread gray            overtone (201A).        -   Bark texture.—Of medium fineness.

-   Current year shoot:    -   -   Length.—35-50 cm.        -   Color.—Reddish-brown (200C/200D) with widespread gray            overtone (201A).

-   Winter hardiness:    -   -   USDA hardiness zone.—Unknown.        -   Chilling requirement.—Unknown.

-   Flower buds:    -   -   Number per spur.—5-6.        -   Shape.—Sub-globose.        -   Length.—About 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Under 1 cm.        -   Color.—Reddish perules (187C).

-   Flowers:    -   -   Number per cluster.—Minimum 6-maximum 9 per spur; 2-3 per            bud. Abundant bloom.        -   Relative position of petals.—slightly overlapping petals.        -   Diameter.—35-42 mm.        -   Depth.—15-18 mm, measured as distance from receptacle to            maximum petal aperture.        -   Is pollen produced?.—Yes.        -   Coloration of pollen.—Yellow (13A).

-   Sepal:    -   -   Length.—6-8 mm.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Width.—5-6 mm.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Pointed.        -   Margin descriptors.—Regular margin.        -   Color — upper surface.—Pale green (138C).        -   Color — lower surface.—Pale green (138C).

-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Circular.        -   Length.—16-20 mm.        -   Width.—16-20 mm.        -   Apex.—Slightly sunken.        -   Base.—Slightly pointed.        -   Margin.—Slightly undulated.        -   Color — upper surface.—White (155B).        -   Color — lower surface.—White (155B).

-   Bloom:    -   -   Date of bud burst.—7-8 Apr. 2013.        -   Date of first bloom.—13 Apr. 2013.        -   Date of full bloom.—16 Apr. 2013.

-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—33-36 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.1 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143B).

-   Pistil:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—18-21 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143C).

-   Anthers:    -   -   Quantity.—24-28: about 70% are 10-13 mm long, positioned            slightly under the top of the stigma, and 1-2 anthers of            many flowers are longer than the top of the stigma. The            remaining 30% are 5-8 mm long. White filament (155D).        -   Size.—About 1 mm in diameter.        -   Color.—Yellow (15C).

-   Stigma:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—1.2-1.3 mm in diameter.        -   Color.—Green (142A).

-   Styles:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—14-15 mm long.        -   Color.—Pale green (142B) turning to rosè (36C) at end of            bloom.

-   Ovary/ies:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—4-5 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143C).

-   Leaves:    -   -   Length.—14.1-15.2 cm.        -   Width.—7.8-8.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex shape.—Pointed.        -   Base shape.—Pointed.        -   Margin.—Fine-toothed.        -   Color — upper surface.— Dark green (137A).        -   Color — lower surface.— Pale green (138A/138B) with            green-yellow central vein (152A/152B).

-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—4-4.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Color.—Green-yellow (152A/152B) under and reddish upper            (183A).

-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—Heart-shaped.        -   Diameter.—Mostly 30 mm.        -   Height.—24-27 mm.        -   Weight.—12-14 g, average weight.        -   Number per cluster.—5-8 per spur.        -   Skin color (include ground color and over color).—Shiny dark            red (187B) tending oward blackish dark red (187A) at            advanced maturity.        -   Lenticels present? Density?.—Yes, medium.        -   Skin thickness.—Medium.        -   Skin texture.—Medium.        -   Anthocyanin coloration present near skin?.—No.        -   Tenacity of flesh to stone.—Low.        -   Flesh color.—Rosè (52A).        -   Flesh texture.—Fine.        -   Juiciness.—High.        -   Juice analysis (brix, acidity, tss, etc.).—18.2° Brix and            8.3 g/l malic acid (2012 data).        -   Stone size.—Medium-small.        -   Stone shape.—Elliptical.        -   Stone color.—Pale brown (165D).

-   Fruit stem:    -   -   Length.—35-38 mm.        -   Diameter.—Over 1 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143B).

-   Harvest:    -   -   Maturity date range.—10 days after ‘Burlat’ (or about 8 days            before ‘Bing’) at the same date as ‘Celeste’®Sumpaca*.        -   Harvest date range (if different).—Same as above.

Because of the outstanding and unique horticultural characters of theclaimed plant, especially its long harvest period and large size, thischerry can be planted to extend the cultivar's season. Although this newvariety of cherry possesses the above-described characteristics, it isto be understood that variations and fluctuations may occur in themagnitude and qualities due to changes in growing and climateconditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning and pest control.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cherry tree as hereindescribed and illustrated.